Prenatal vitamins are important for fetal development

They are relatively small pills, but this infographic shows that they pack a powerful punch. Don't skip the daily prenatal vitamin if you're growing a baby inside!

“Are you taking a prenatal multivitamin?” It’s one the first questions you’ll be asked when you contact a health care provider about a new pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins are important during pregnancy to offset nutritional deficiencies that could otherwise cause developmental problems and neurological disabilities in babies, particularly in the very early stages of fetal growth. They are recommended throughout the entire pregnancy and during the post-natal and lactation periods.

Prenatal multivitamin pills, when taken daily, provide crucial nutrients such as folic acid, vitamins D, C, and E, calcium, iron, iodine, DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid), thiamine, and zinc. The following infographic, originally published by LabDoor, explains some of the most crucial nutrients and what exactly they do to aid your baby’s development.